Chapter Ten:

- This song is not over
Get shock!

"So… tell me about yourself, Sephiroth. I feel like I hardly know you," Ryiah said, batting her eyelashes in Sephiroth's direction. "The real you I mean, I know everything about you from the fan-club."

"That pretty much covers things… Let's focus on you, what's your favorite type of flower?" Sephiroth asked, desperate to divert the attention from himself.

"Hmm, that's an interesting change of subject… I guess I like orchids."

Cloud furiously scribbled this bit of information down on his small notepad.

"She's lying to him," Tseng informed Cloud.

"Huh?"

"I think she's onto something."

"What do you mean?" Could asked.

"Just watch."

Sephiroth smiled at Ryiah. "I see, they are beautiful flowers. Do you have any siblings?"

"I'm a Turk silly, I don't have a family," Ryiah told him.

"Just because you're a Turk doesn't mean you were raised by wolves."

"What about you? Where are your parents from?"

"I don't have any parents." Sephiroth took a sip of his water.

"Oh."

"You don't seem surprised."

"I already knew that about you." Ryiah nodded. "You don't really have any family besides Genesis and Angeal."

Sephiroth watched her in silence.

"Were you close to Twiggy, too?"

"Twiggy?"

"Levei," Ryiah corrected.

"I didn't know Genesis had a younger sister until recently."

"Interesting approach…" Tseng commented. "She's managing to extract personal information at an alarming rate."

"Uh, I think she's just making conversation," Cloud pointed out.

"Look, here comes our food," Ryiah said, excited as she watched an abundance of tiny dishes being set on their table. "I don't think I've ever seen you eat."

"Good to know you haven't been stalking me. I've had my suspicions," Sephiroth said, watching Ryiah over the food.

Ryiah smiled at him. "I'll take that as a joke."

"I can be quite the comedian at times. This isn't one of those times." Sephiroth smiled back.

Ryiah stabbed her food aggressively and Sephiroth politely twirled a small bit of pasta on his fork.

"Do you have any allergies?" Ryiah questioned.

"No, I am perfect."

"Ah, of course." Ryiah kicked herself for asking a question with such an obvious answer.

A waiter walked up to Tseng and Cloud's table, breaking their concentration. "Are you ready to order, sirs?"

"I'll have a—" Cloud began, but was cut off by a glare from Tseng. "… few more minutes."

"Alright then. Let me know if I can get you some … cocktails, we make a great raspberry twirler."

"Isn't that a girl's drink? Why would we—"

Tseng took Cloud's hand in his, waving off the waiter. "We're fine for now, thank you."

As soon as the waiter was out of view, Cloud ripped his hand from Tseng's. "What'd you do that for?!"

"Keep your voice down. It's part of our cover." Tseng wiped his hand on a napkin before turning back to Ryiah as she took the last bite of her food.

"Your stomach capacity is admirable," Sephiroth complimented, watching Ryiah in awe.

"What kind of compliment is … who is this guy?" Cloud whispered to Tseng harshly.

Tseng shook his head slightly.

"I work out a lot." Ryiah smiled shyly.

"Would you like to order some desert?"

"Or… we could go back to my place," Ryiah suggested, looking up at Sephiroth from beneath her eye lashes.

Sephiroth looked down at his phone. "I'm afraid I have other hero duties I must attend to." He looked around the room nonchalantly.

"Something's not right," Tseng stated.

"Yeah, she's looking at the dessert menu, and we haven't eaten. I'm starving…" Cloud said.

"Oh… was I too bold? I thought things were going well." Ryiah looked down at her hands, disappointed by Sephiroth's rejection.

"They are going well. I have an early morning and…" Sephiroth took her hand in his, looking into her eyes. "I like to savor a relationship. Let's not give every secret away on the first date."

Ryiah melted under his gaze.

"Finally, this nonsense is over," Tseng said as he watched Sephiroth pay for the meal and escort Ryiah out of the restaurant.

"But, we didn't learn anything," Cloud pointed out.

Tseng stood up and walked over to study Ryiah's empty table, noticing Sephiroth had forgotten his cell phone. He picked it up, scanning through the messages at an alarming rate before setting the phone down and returning to Cloud.

Sephiroth came back inside, and strode over to retrieve his phone just as Tseng returned to his seat. With phone in hand, Sephiroth left once again.

"What did it say?" Cloud asked harshly.

"This date is covering for a mission entitling Sephiroth to distract Ryiah. And apparently, it worked," Tseng explained, shaking his head.

"Who sent it?"

"I don't know, but I will find out." Tseng stood up and left as well.

The waiter stepped up to Cloud, watching Tseng head for the doors. "I see you are leaving?"

Cloud swallowed audibly. "I…" His shoulders slumped. "Yeah."

Ryiah stood out front of the restaurant, her shiny black dress shoes reflecting off the street light she was waiting under. "Where did you go?" she asked as Sephiroth stepped up to join her.

He waved the phone at her. "It was hiding under the napkin."

"Silly phone, doesn't it know who it's messing with?"

Sephiroth laughed slightly. "I suppose it doesn't." He slipped the phone in his pocket. "Should I escort you to your Headquarters, or will you be staying in Genesis' younger sister's room again?"

"Twiggy and I are roomies. See… she's scared of the dark so I've taken it upon myself to protect her."

"Very well," Sephiroth said, offering his arm.

After a pleasant stroll back to Shinra, the two found themselves at the end of the date, standing awkwardly outside of Levei's bedroom door.

"Well, I suppose this is good night." Sephiroth watched Ryiah, willing her not to try anything.

"I guess it is… huh." Ryiah appeared to be in thought.

"What is it? Is something the matter?"

"Well, it's just…. I didn't think you'd be able to pull it off."

"What do you mean?"

"Pull off this mission. I mean, I knew you were loyal to your beloved Shinra but… to go this far as to please a fan-girl." Ryiah tapped her bottom lip. "I can't say I'm not pleased but…"

"So you did know," Sephiroth stated, as if confirming future beliefs.

"Of course, I'm a Turk." Ryiah winked at him.

Sephiroth nodded.

"I still failed to figure out just who put up the mission though. At first I thought it was Zack, but there's no way he could be that smart." Ryiah laughed. "I wonder if Tseng knows."

Sephiroth smiled at her. "Good night, Turk," he said before turning, his hair flowing out behind him, and walking off down the hall.

Ryiah's phone buzzed and she glanced at the text: "Of course I know."

"Tseng, why don't you come out and talk to me face to face like a man," Ryiah chastised.

Tseng opened Levei's bedroom door from the inside and sighed. "Step inside."

Ryiah entered the room and shut the door behind her. "So, who was it? It wasn't…" She gasped. "You!?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Awh, you're blushing," Ryiah gushed.

"I am not," Tseng protested, since he was in fact not blushing in the slightest.

Ryiah sighed. "You're right, it's impossible to make you blush. Hey, you know… I never did get a good night kiss from my date." She glanced up at Tseng, suggestively.

"That is not my problem."

"Yes it is! It's your responsibility to make me happy!"

"It never has been and it never will be," Tseng said blankly.

"Fine." Ryiah pouted and crossed her arms. "Who put up the mission? Tell me and I'll stop bothering you… for the next hour."

Tseng stared at her. "I don't believe you are capable."

Downstairs in the lobby, Sephiroth walked past Zack and Levei who were just now returning from their night on the town.

"Hey Sephiroth, how was the mission?" Zack winked at him.

"Good, how was yours?" Sephiroth asked in return.

Zack slung his arm around Levei's shoulders. "Great, thanks for asking." He grinned as Sephiroth continued to pass them. After a moment Zack pulled his arm back. "Oh sorry, forgot."

Levei rolled her eyes.

"Of course I can do it! See, I have this tape recorder of you singing a lullaby." Ryiah waved a small voice recorder at Tseng.

"Where did you get that?" he demanded.

"I didn't put it in the shower with you or anything."

"My one spot of complete vulnerability…"

Ryiah smiled at him. "So tell me, and I'll let this sing me to sleep… for tonight."

"Give me the recorder and I'll tell you," Tseng offered.

"But the recorder… it's my most prized possession."

Zack opened the door and stepped inside with Levei close behind.

Ryiah screamed. "Zack! What did I tell you about coming in here without knocking?!"

"Why are you screaming?! This isn't even your room, and you're fully clothed!" Zack shouted back.

"I could have been naked!"

Tseng no longer sat on the bed next to Ryiah and had somehow managed to disappear in less than seconds.

Ryiah sighed. "Now I'll never know who put up the mission… until tomorrow when I trick that blonde kid into hacking into the soldier data bases."

"Mission?" Zack asked.

Levei put up a hand. "No, don't ask. Then she'll explain."

"Right then…" Zack looked pointedly at Ryiah. "Don't force Cloud to do anything." He watched her innocent smile. "And I don't buy that." He turned to Levei, winking. "Thanks for the… date."

"Date?" Ryiah looked between them. "I can't believe it, Zack on a date, with a woman!"

"I go on plenty of dates with women!"

"You hear that, Twiggy, he's cheating on you."

"Hey! Don't put words in my mouth!" Zack yelled.

"I don't have the desire to go anywhere near your mouth!" Ryiah shouted back.

"Don't lie! I've seen the looks!"

"Don't flatter yourself! I was only staring because your mouth is ugly!"

Genesis appeared in the open doorway. "What is this racket?"

"Genesis, perfect, just the man I wanted to see." Ryiah walked over and grabbed is hand.

"Release me immediately."

Zack looked nervous, since he had been caught in his sister's bedroom.

"Can you… wow, this is embarrassing and awkward." Ryiah blushed, not letting go of Genesis' hand. "Can you ask Sephiroth what he thinks of me? Find out what kind of day he had?"

"I will not," Genesis dismissed.

"It's because you have feelings for me." Ryiah nodded. "I knew it, it's okay, there's no need to be jealous. I'll let you two share."

"This isn't awkward…" Levei commented sarcastically.

Zack tried to play it cool. "She's just kidding Genesis, she's kind of insane."

"So I've noticed." He turned on Zack and Levei. "Well, I see you haven't managed to kill her yet."

"I—"

"I was talking to my sister; how you, Zack, haven't been killed is astounding."

"Thank… you?" Zack said, unsure.

"I like you more and more as we spend time together…" Ryiah sighed longingly.

"Tch." Zack scowled.

"This does not concern you," Genesis told Ryiah.

"But… but…" Ryiah started, desperate to keep Genesis' attention. "Zack went on a date with your sister! And… he kissed her on the beach, remember!" She stuck her tongue out at Zack.

Zack's mouth dropped open in shock.

Genesis' eye's glowed red. "What was that, about a date?"

"I … she…" Zack stumbled.

"So you're going to blame her for this?!"

"No! I didn't mean—"

Levei cut him off. "Zack saved me."

Genesis and Zack slowly turned to face her.

"We went after that chimera from the lab and Zack saved me."

Zack gave Genesis a weak smile and Genesis narrowed his eyes. "This isn't over."

"So you went on a date with him for saving you? Tch, you owe me so many dates then, Twiggy," Ryiah said.

Genesis looked between Zack and Ryiah. "Somehow I feel less threatened by my sister going on a date with the Turk."

"Because of my large influence on the opposite gender?" Zack offered, cockily.

Genesis' eyes glowed red again.

"Sorry, sorry… I take it back."

"Yeah he does. He has no influence on the opposite gender!" Ryiah said. "But funny enough, a lot on his own gender… there have been rumors." She dropped her voice to a whisper for only Genesis to hear. "I heard he likes to kiss guys, watch out."

"Thanks for the warning." Genesis gave Zack a warning glance.

Zack threw his hands up. "I don't even know what's going on!"

"It's for the best." Levei nodded.

"I'll see you in the morning." Genesis nodded a farewell to his sister before walking out.

Zack exhaled loudly. "Man, he's so intense…." He turned to Ryiah. "You went on a date with Sephiroth, right? Well, I made that happen so, like our challenge from earlier, you should be satisfied. Hmm?"

"Well I was… until just now! Why would you tell me it was you?! Now it's tainted," Ryiah wailed.

"I can't win!"

"You will never satisfy me!"

"But you said… if you had a date with Sephiroth you would be satisfied," Zack reminded.

"I don't believe it."

"You said! You heard her, right Levei?"

"Twiggy." Ryiah narrowed her eyes at Levei.

"You made it happen Zack?" Levei asked.

"I might as well have! She got the date, that's all that counts!"

"I see…" Levei turned to Ryiah. "And did you get the date you wanted?"

"The date was okay… who am I kidding, it was like a dream. But the ending, well look where I am! In a room with Zack! Of course the ending could use much improvement." Ryiah crossed her arms.

"Tch, like you could do better." Zack scoffed.

"Wait, rewind… you 'might as well have'? So… it wasn't you?"

"No, I hadn't gotten around to it yet; I've had too many missions. Today for instance, was a very important mission. But that's not the point! The point is that I satisfied you and I win!" He did a fist pump.

"If you didn't make the date with Sephiroth happen, then you didn't satisfy me! Someone else did… and I bet I know who… it was," Ryiah paused for dramatic effect. "Cloud!"

Cloud stepped out from behind one of Levei's curtains. "So you've discovered me."

Zack gasped. "Cloud, it was you? But… why would you want to set Ryiah up on a date with the man she's freakishly obsessed with?"

"I'm glad you asked that, Zack. I'll tell you why."

"Why don't you guys take this conversation out of my room." Levei pointed to the door.

Cloud ignored her and gave into Zack's expectant gaze. "I did it … because Zack told me to! So… he is responsible!"

"Don't you dare lie to me, after all we've been through!" Ryiah cried.

"I… I'm not…" Cloud said, nervously.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me you're not lying."

"I'm afraid to look you in the eyes… last time I did that you poked mine!"

"You wouldn't blink! I got desperate!"

"I saw him do it, Ryiah, he set up those missions." Levei said, confirming Cloud's story.

Zack spoke with tears of joy. "Thank you Cloud, thank you for following through for me!"

"Of course Zack! Anything for you!" Cloud said, and the two joined in a manly embrace.

"Well, that was anti-climatic…" Ryiah sighed. "I was hoping you'd have some scheming tale of setting up the mission to distract Sephiroth and me while you went along behind us, teaming up with Tseng to secretly gather information that could later be used as blackmail once Sephiroth and I get married and rule the world together. It's the only way to prevent yourself from becoming my slave."

"That sounded pretty good until the end…" Zack said.

Cloud blinked. "That would have been a better explanation…"

Levei clapped slowly.

"So… Zack wins?" Cloud smiled hopefully.

"Sure, I guess…" Ryiah yawned. "I don't remember betting anything though so… I guess he just wins nothing."

"Nothing? I did all that for nothing? … totally worth it!" Zack did a fist pump.

Ryiah crawled into Levei's twin bed. "Either join me or get out." She closed her eyes.

Cloud took a step toward the bed.

"Come on buddy." Zack grabbed Cloud's arm and dragged him out of the room.

"Enjoy your victory while it lasts. She was the next to last girl in Shinra." Levei smiled.

Zack narrowed his eyes at her as he shut the door.

"Good night Twiggy." Ryiah mumbled, reaching up to touch the shiny silver wings in her hair. "Good night…"